Shahbaz Sharif says Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan on Oct 21

There has been much speculation about the arrival of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan as the elections draw closer. Now, his brother and former Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has confirmed that Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan on October 21.

Shahbaz Sharif confirmed the date after a meeting with Nawaz Sharif in London along with Khawaja Asif. After the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that his party has decided that Nawaz Sharif will return to the country in October.

To prepare for the arrival of his brother and party’s head, Shahbaz Sharif will return to Lahore to make necessary arrangements for his arrival. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif is expected to make a stopover in Saudi Arabia and perform Umrah before his return to Pakistan.

Senior party members have revealed that the party has been instructed to make necessary preparations to welcome Nawaz Sharif. The PML-N is also set to start its election drive after the return of Nawaz Sharif, who will lead the party into the next general elections.

Nawaz Sharif has also been busy in London meeting party members and making strategy for the general elections. The party is faced with many challenges as it now not only has to face its bitter political rival, the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI), but also public anger over the rise in inflation and cost of living during the brief tenure of Shahbaz Sharif.

Read more: Pakistan Supreme Court Rejects New Law, Impacting Nawaz Sharif’s

Political analysts believe that Nawaz has the potential to give PML-N a new life for the next elections but he will first have to deal with the cases against him and his conviction. The party will also have to contend with the growing popularity of PTI and re-emergence of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that has also made inroads in Punjab during the absence of Nawaz Sharif.